A rare typescript of the enchanting children's book, The Little Prince, is set to be auctioned at $1.25 million (£963,313). Crafted by author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry during his exile in New York in the 1940s, this typewritten copy is one of only three in existence and includes personal annotations and sketches by the author himself. The manuscript will be featured at this year's Abu Dhabi Art Festival, taking place in November.
Saint-Exupéry originally penned Le Petit Prince while in New York during World War II, with its publication dating back to 1943. Renowned for both his literary genius and his aviation skills, Saint-Exupéry mysteriously vanished during a reconnaissance mission with the Free French air force.
The Little Prince follows a pilot stranded in the desert who encounters a small, otherworldly boy. Since its release, it has become one of the most translated and beloved stories globally, selling millions of copies.
The available typescript also includes sketches of the Little Prince and displays signs of wear from its history, such as burned cigarette marks. Interestingly, it contains the first known appearance of one of the story's key lines: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; the essential is invisible to the eye."
According to Peter Harrington Rare Books, which has been preparing the typescript for sale, the copy is significant due to its intimate annotations, making it a unique treasure amongst its companions in France's national library and the Harry Ransom Center in Texas. The anticipation for the auction is high, with possibilities of interest from major museums and libraries eager to secure this emblematic piece of literary heritage.
